Dean Kamen\ Dean Kamen's Robotic "Luke" Arm
Posted by: spectrummag

Video duration: 335 seconds

Segway inventor Dean Kamen is looking to re-invent the prosthetic arm. IEEE Spectrum caught up with Kamen and one of his "test pilots," to see the robotic arm (named after Luke Skywalker's articficial limb) in action.

Related: amputee, arm, artificial, dean, deka, gadget, kamen, luke, prosthetic, robotic, skywalker
Maker Faire 2008: Guitar Zeros Maker Faire 2008: Guitar Zeros
Posted by: spectrummag

Video duration: 367 seconds

The Guitar Zeros use Guitar Hero controllers to produce a range of synthesized sounds.

Related: 08, 2008, diy, electronics, fair, faire, guitar, hero, ieee, maker, mateo, midi, san, spectrum, synthesizer, zeros
Maker Faire 2008: Microfiche MIDI Controller Maker Faire 2008: Microfiche MIDI Controller
Posted by: spectrummag

Video duration: 112 seconds

IEEE Spectrum caught up with Andrew Turley, who had turned an archival tool into a musical instrument. Using a simple photodiode, the keyboard plays notes based on how light the center of the screen is.

Related: 08, 2008, band, diode, diy, electronics, fair, faire, gadget, ieee, keyboard, maker, mateo, microfiche, midi, photo, san, spectrum
CES 2008: First \"Works with iPhone\" Speaker System CES 2008: First "Works with iPhone" Speaker System
Posted by: spectrummag

Video duration: 103 seconds

At Digital Experience! (the CES pre-show), IEEE Spectrum stopped by the Altec Lansing booth to check out the first dock/speaker system designed specifically for the iPhone. Not only does it shield GSM radiation, it pauses the music when you get a call.

Related: 2008, altec, ces, consumer, dock, electronics, gadget, gsm, iphone, lansing, show, speakers
Maker Faire: Life Size Mouse Trap Maker Faire: Life Size Mouse Trap
Posted by: spectrummag

Video duration: 183 seconds

It's hard enough to get the mouse trap to work right in the board game, but the San Francisco crew at Maker Faire managed to pull it off on a human scale several times over the weekend. The rig apparently took 10 years to build.

Related: faire, giant, life, maker, mark, mouse, perez, size, trap
CES 2008: Ford and Sirius Team Up for In-Car Navigation CES 2008: Ford and Sirius Team Up for In-Car Navigation
Posted by: spectrummag

Video duration: 211 seconds

At CES, Ford announced a new navigation system that will be in the Ford Flex, the Ford F-150, and the Lincoln MKS. The nav system uses Sirius to stream information like gas prices, movie times, and weather updates directly to the car. IEEE Spectrum caught up with Ford to talk about Travel Link, which, like Sync, can be voice activated.

Related: auto, car, ces, consumer, electronics, f-150, flex, ford, gps, link, navigation, sirius, sync, travel
CES 2008: Bug Labs-How an Open Source Gadget Works CES 2008: Bug Labs-How an Open Source Gadget Works
Posted by: spectrummag

Video duration: 311 seconds

Jeremy Toeman, head of marketing for Bug Labs, explains how open source software and hardware interact on Bug Labs' customizable gadget. For a more general introduction to the device, check out part one of IEEE Spectrum's interview with Bug Labs' Mehrshad Mansouri

Related: bug, camera, ces, consumer, diy, electronics, gadget, gps, hackable, hardware, labs, linux, open, source
CES 2008: Ford and Microsoft Show Off Voice-Activated Sync CES 2008: Ford and Microsoft Show Off Voice-Activated Sync
Posted by: spectrummag

Video duration: 305 seconds

At Showstoppers @ CES, Ford showed off their Sync system that lets drivers operate their phone and music systems hands-free. Sync works with any bluetooth phone, and any USB based music player: Zune, iPod, or memory stick. IEEE Spectrum hopped in the Ford Focus for a live demo of the system, which can also call 9-1-1 if your airbag goes off.

Related: bluetooth, ces, consumer, demo, electronics, focus, ford, hands-free, ipod, phone, showstoppers, sync, zune
Maker Faire: Pleo the Dinosaur Robot Maker Faire: Pleo the Dinosaur Robot
Posted by: spectrummag

Video duration: 131 seconds

IEEE Spectrum's Josh Romero gets an inside look at Pleo, the Dinosaur Robot destined to be a Christmas hit (for $350!)

Related: faire, ieee, maker, pleo, robot, spectrum
Maker Faire 2008: R2-D2 Builders Maker Faire 2008: R2-D2 Builders
Posted by: spectrummag

Video duration: 186 seconds

It's everyone's favorite android! IEEE Spectrum talked with R2-D2 builder Steve Simmons at Maker Faire to find out how the Star Wars droids work. (For more, check out http://www.artoo-det oo.net/)

Related: 08, 2008, android, d2, diy, droid, electronics, fair, faire, ieee, maker, mateo, r2, r2-d2, robot, robotics, san, spectrum, star, wars
Maker Faire 2008: Light-Seeking Mouse Robots Maker Faire 2008: Light-Seeking Mouse Robots
Posted by: spectrummag

Video duration: 92 seconds

IEEE Spectrum looked around Maker Faire for some of the coolest projects. These mouse robots follow a beam of light and have bump-sensing whiskers and tails.

Related: 08, 2008, diy, electronics, fair, faire, ieee, kit, maker, mateo, mouse, robot, robotics, san, spectrum
Maker Faire 2008: Voxhead, the Babbling Robot Maker Faire 2008: Voxhead, the Babbling Robot
Posted by: spectrummag

Video duration: 204 seconds

Anyone can hook up a speaker to make a robot talk, but Mike Brady wants his Voxhead to use it's own vocal cavity. What's more, he really made Voxhead to explore learning, so the bot has to listen to itself to correct its speech (which, at this point, is more like singing).
For more info, visit http://www.fluidbase .com/mike/projects/V oxHead

Related: 08, 2008, artificial, brain, diy, fair, faire, ieee, learnin, maker, mateo, research, robot, san, spectrum, speech, tract, vocal, voxhead
Maker Faire 2008: Babbage\ Maker Faire 2008: Babbage's Difference Engine No. 2 Replica
Posted by: spectrummag

Video duration: 188 seconds

The Computer History Museum was on hand with a working model of Charles Babbage's Difference Engine No. 2. The real device, essentially a mechanical, Victorian-era calculator, will go on display next week.

Related: 08, 2008, babbage, charles, computer, diy, engine, fair, faire, ieee, maker, mechanics, museum, spectrum
Maker Faire Day 2- DIY Trail Camera Maker Faire Day 2- DIY Trail Camera
Posted by: spectrummag

Video duration: 215 seconds

Spectrum editor Harry Goldstein talks to Don Kirk, who won the MAKE/Spectrum DIY contest for his trail cameras.

Related: cam, diy, faire, maker, night, trail, wildlife
Tengu, the Lip-Syncing USB Robot Tengu, the Lip-Syncing USB Robot
Posted by: spectrummag

Video duration: 129 seconds

IEEE Spectrum editor Phillip Ross shows off his new favorite office toy, Tengu. Tengu's not cheap (he'll set you back $50) but he does have 8 different faces to mock you with when you speak. (more)

Related: computer, consumer, electronics, face, gadget, led, lip, office, robot, sync, tengu, toy, usb